Australia
March 12, 2013
Australia’s premier information source on registered agricultural and veterinary chemicals today became a free online website.
Infopest is a user-friendly easily searchable database of all nationally registered agricultural and veterinary (Agvet) chemical products, approved Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) off-label permits and their uses.
It is owned and managed by agricultural peak body, Growcom, for the benefit of anyone interested in finding Agvet solutions to their pest problems. By using the powerful Infopest search engine users can easily locate Australian registered agricultural and veterinary products which:
- can be used on a particular host (crop, animal or other)
- can be used to control a particular pest (weed, disease, insect or other)
- are registered by a particular company (dealer)
- contain a certain active constituent
- have a particular product name (phonetic spellings can be used for both constituents or products)
- or any combination of these.
Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said that Infopest was originally developed and distributed by the Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (formerly DEEDI) and supplied on DVD as a paid subscription service. This was continued when Growcom took over ownership of the product last year.
“Growcom recognises the importance of the Infopest database as a reliable tool for the agricultural and veterinary industries,” Mr Livingstone said.
“Over many years Infopest has been recognised as the go-to tried and trusted resource for helping Australia’s primary industries and other agencies achieve disease and pest free produce and animals.
“However, modern work practices and tools dictated the need for a more convenient format. The new free online web version is accessible from a wider array of devices including desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones,” Mr Livingstone said.
“We are committed to continuing to maintain and enhance the benefits of the database free online. A team of people at Growcom’s Brisbane office update the data every week.”
Mr Livingstone expects that as the word gets out, the new service will attract many more people interested in finding out the agricultural chemical products available to solve their pest problems.
Current customers include farmers, agronomists, agricultural consultants, chemical companies, dealers, local producer associations and other primary producers, state and federal government departments, feedlots, industry bodies, research and crop services, teaching institutes and libraries, nurseries, veterinarians, golf courses, managers of playing fields and gardens, local councils and associations.
The website will also help employers to meet their requirements under Workplace Health and Safety regulations. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are included in the Infopest resource.
Reports are easily downloadable to be filed.
“Growcom recognises the importance of providing an effective pest management resource for agribusiness,” said Mr Livingstone.
“One of Growcom’s major roles for the past decade has been to assist the horticulture industry with agricultural chemicals information and access to support through the Minor Use Permits scheme.
“Infopest enables us to expand this assistance to other sectors.”
Users will be able to register for free from today on the website at www.infopest.com.au.
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